Reading knife attack: US-born man named as one of victims
A US-born man was one of the victims of the suspected terror attack in Reading, where he worked for a pharmaceutical company, it has been reported.
Joe Ritchie-Bennett, 39, grew up in Philadelphia but moved to England about 15 years ago, his father told American media.
Robert Ritchie told reporters that his son worked for a law firm in London before taking a job about 10 years ago at a Dutch pharmaceutical firm with British headquarters in Reading, where the stabbing attack took place.
Ritchie-Bennett was reportedly friendly with James Furlong, 36, a teacher identified as a victim of the attack. In a statement, Furlong’s parents, Gary and Janet, described their son as “beautiful, intelligent, honest and fun”. According to the Daily Mirror, his husband, Ian, 32, died in December 2014 from colon cancer. A friend told the paper: “I’m happy for them that they’re back together.”
A third person was also killed in the attack that lasted five minutes in Forbury Gardens in the town centre just before 7pm on Saturday. Two other people were injured and treated in hospital.
Robbie de Santos, director of Stonewall, paid tribute to Furlong and Ritchie-Bennett. He said: “Our thoughts are with those affected by the attack in Reading on Saturday. It’s heartbreaking to hear two of the victims were LGBT.
“But we can’t let Islamophobic, racist and xenophobic rhetoric be used to divide us. We must stand together to make progress.”
Ritchie-Bennett comes from a family of police officers. Robert Ritchie, his father, is a retired chief inspector. His mother is a retired police officer, as is the wife of his brother, Robert.
“I love him. I always have. I always will,” his brother told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “He was a great guy. He was four years younger than me. I had a paper route at 12 and he helped me every day. I used to buy him something every two weeks to thank him.
“We used to play together every day. We rode bikes together every day. Our family is heartbroken and beside ourselves,” he said.
His father described Ritchie-Bennett as an “absolutely fabulous guy. I absolutely love my son with all of my heart and all of my soul,” he told the newspaper.
The US ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson, confirmed that an American citizen had been killed in the Reading atrocity. He said: “I offer my deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the attack on 20 June. To our great sorrow, this includes an American citizen. Our thoughts are with all those affected. We condemn the attack absolutely and have offered our assistance to British law enforcement.”
A US state department spokesman said: “We are aware of the alleged act of terrorism in Reading, United Kingdom, on June 20, resulting in the death of a US citizen. Our staff in the United Kingdom and here in the United States are working to provide consular assistance to the victim’s family. We offer our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of all of those affected. Out of respect for the privacy of the family, we have nothing further to add at this time.”
Paying tribute to Ritchie-Bennett, the chief executive of the LGBT+ charity Reading Pride, Martin Cooper, said he had known him for four years and Furlong for at least two, having met them at the Blagrave Arms in Reading, a pub where they were regulars.
Cooper said Ritchie-Bennett and Furlong were “great supporters” and members of the community. “Their loss is a tragedy to so many people,” the 36year-old from Reading told PA Media.
“It was always a pleasure drinking and socialising and just being in their company. They should be remembered as extremely friendly gentlemen who were always fun, engaging and a pleasure to be around.
“They were their own little support network for anybody to offload their troubles and concerns and gave great advice. They will be sorely missed by myself personally and many in the community. Their loss is a tragedy to so many people.”
The confirmation of Ritchie-Bennett’s death came as a minute’s silence was held in Reading for the victims and their families of the attack. Flags on civic buildings in the town will be flown at half-mast for the rest of the week.
The UK home secretary, Priti Patel, was in Reading to meet police. She will update MPs on the incident in the Commons later on Monday.
Students at the Holt school in Wokingham, where Furlong taught, will light candles and lay flowers in his memory later on Monday.
A former pupil, Molly Collins, who left the school in 2017, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “He was such a loved teacher. I can’t find anyone that ever had a bad word to say about him, and to hear that it was him is just so, so sad.”